Reese Williams was first mentioned when a very pregnant Bianca Montgomery came back to Pine Valley to share the news of her pregnancy. She and Bianca had met in a Parisian park and it was love at first sight. The new couple decided that they wanted to have a child and wanted to give Bianca's other daughter, Miranda, a "true sibling" from the same blood line. Miranda's father was the late Michael Cambias, but when his brother (and Bianca's brother-in-law), Zach Slater, showed up in Paris on a business trip, they proposed that he be the donor. Zach agreed to be the father, and Reese and Bianca looked forward to birth of their child.

In October 2008, a very pregnant Bianca traveled home to share all of the wonderful things that were happening in her life. Reese stayed behind with Miranda. Terrible tornados soon struck Pine Valley. While in the rubble, Bianca gave birth to a daughter, Gabrielle. Mother and child were taken to Pine Valley Hospital and discharged after examination. When Bianca was relaxing at home on Halloween, taking care of her newborn and sister Kendall's two children, the doorbell rang. To Bianca's delight, it was the love of her life, Reese, with Miranda.

The couple reconnected and shared the joy and awe of their new daughter. Reese surprised Bianca with plans for a house she designed for her new family. Bianca was extremely moved and did not think it could get any better as Reese reminisced with the story of how they met and how she knew it was true love. As a final gesture, Reese pulled out a diamond ring and asked Bianca to marry her. Bianca agreed and immediately wanted to plan a European event, but Reese wanted a Pine Valley affair so Bianca's loved ones could be present. Bianca reminded her that gay marriage was not legal in Pennsylvania. The couple agreed to have a small function stateside and a bigger, legal event in Europe. Reese met her future mother-in-law, Erica Kane, and fell in love, being so bold to ask if she could call her "Mom," which was met with a vehement "no" from both Erica and Bianca.

Reese took a job while staying Pine Valley to help her fiancée and soon-to-be family, redesigning Zach's damaged casino. One night on the job, she heard Zach speaking lovingly to someone unknown and discovered him speaking into a tape recorder. The two shared a quiet moment as Reese revealed that Zach reminded her of her father, and that she had not spoken to her parents in a long time. The reason was her sexuality. Reese had told them how much Bianca meant to her, and her family had turned her away.

Unbeknownst to Reese, a shocked Bianca had heard the conversation. Later at home, Bianca confronted Reese about what she heard, and Reese broke down and admitted that her parents disowned her after she came out. She said it didn't matter because she had all the family and support she wanted in Bianca, Gabrielle, and Miranda. Bianca soon knew Reese had not even told her parents about Bianca's pregnancy, but Reese vowed that her father would meet her daughter.

Reese convinced Bianca she was fully committed to a life with her regardless of her family's views and the wedding plans moved forward. Reese also continued her work for Zach redesigning his casino. Zach and Reese worked closely together while Zach's wife Kendall was in a coma. Erica suspected that Reese was attracted to Zach and tried to protect both her daughters from the pain she believed Reese was about to inflict on their family. Erica planted doubts about Reese with Bianca but the women remained engaged.

Bianca and Reese were reminded how much they meant to one another after Bianca's brother Josh returned to Pine Valley. He posed as an architecture student and questioned Reese about the casino's security. Josh returned later and attempted to rob the casino but his plans were thwarted. He briefly took Reese hostage at gunpoint but he was shot before he could escape with her. Bianca and Reese were grateful they each escaped unharmed and eagerly anticipated exchanging wedding vows alongside Ryan and Greenlee.

The connection between Reese and Zach remained strong even after Kendall emerged from her coma. Kendall immediately sensed the closeness between her husband and Reese and heeded Erica's words of caution regarding her. Kendall was also angry when she learned that Zach had fathered Bianca and Reese's child and she used her anger as a reason to force Reece and Bianca out of her house.

Reese and Bianca moved into a suite at the casino as their wedding day drew near. At the rehearsal dinner, Kendall and Erica made it clear to Reese that she was not being welcomed into their family with open arms. Reese reacted to the pressure and calmed herself with a few drinks. Zach found Reese and offered her comfort and they kissed. Immediately afterward, they admitted it was a mistake because they were in love with other people.

Although Reese and Zach had agreed to keep their kiss private, they were unaware Ryan witnessed it. Ryan shared what he saw with Greenlee and she refused to be married alongside Reese and Bianca. Greenlee claimed she was ill and she and Ryan pulled out of the double wedding but Bianca and Reese carried on with the ceremony.

Zach and Kendall did not attend the ceremony but Kendall showed up at the reception. She announced that Greenlee had been killed in an accident and was presumed dead and it was Reese's fault. Kendall explained that Greenlee had taken off on a motorcycle after she learned about the kiss between Zach and Reese and had been forced off the road by an oncoming car. Bianca was shocked by the news about Greenlee and Reese's involvement with Zach and she pushed her away.

Bianca returned to Paris and Reese worried that Bianca would keep their daughter from her. She planned to quietly leave town until she found a surprising ally in Adam Chandler. He encouraged Reese to remain in Pine Valley and he offered her a place to stay. Reese decided to stay in town to prove her love for Bianca by showing her she was committed to a life with Bianca in Pine Valley.

In her quest to regain access to her daughter, Reese repeatedly asked Zach to speak to Bianca on her behalf and continually refused to become involved. During one of their heated conversations, Reese fell backward into a glass table and it shattered. Fragments in the table flew into her eyes and rendered her temporarily blind. Reese underwent surgery to restore her vision and she emerged from the surgery with a new attitude. She confronted Kendall and Erica and promised them that someday she would be married to Bianca regardless of how they felt about her.

Erica responded positively after Reese's declaration of love for Bianca and she provided Reese with advice for winning Bianca back. Bianca and Reese reconciled and they returned to Paris to raise their family. Their happiness was short-lived and Bianca returned to Pine Valley while Reese remained in Paris. Reese filed a petition for sole custody of their daughter but later dropped the petition when she was offered a prestigious architecture position.